Page 160 of Ice Darling
He laughs.
I add, “And I wanted to hear your voice.”
In the background, I hear the unmistakable slap of hockey sticks thwacking on the ice. But he doesn’t seem distracted at all when he asks me, “What are you working on right now?”
“I think I’m close to figuring out why a client’s car is stalling. They brought it in saying their previous mechanic wanted to change out the car’s computer, but I had a hunch that the computer wasn’t causing the issue.”
“I didn’t know cars have computers.”
“They don’t have monitors and desktop hardware, if that’s what you’re imagining. But all electronic units are controlled by a computer. It determines fuel intake, air intake, and ignition timing. Those sensors allow us to diagnose—aaaand I’m rambling.”
“Don’t stop.”
“No way.”
“I like it. It’s cute.”
“You don’t understand a word I’m saying,” I point out.
“I don’t have to understand car repair to like you, Cordelia. I just…like you. All of you.”
I blush hard as my stomach does somersaults. “I like you too,” I admit.
“All of me?”
I laugh at his teasing tone. “Mostly just your muscles.”
“I thought you preferred a dad bod?”
“I lied.”
Renthrow belly-laughs, and I feel so,sopleased that I could make him laugh like that when he sounded upset over text.
“About what you asked earlier, back when I was running the company, I had to fire employees and have tough conversationsall the time. It doesn’t get any easier. But it’s better to be honest right from the start.”
“Just jump in for the kill?” He sounds reluctant.
“Be yourself, but be professional. Don’t talk about the weather or stretch things out. Warn them that you’re about to share bad news, so they can brace themselves. Then rip off the Band-Aid.”
He sighs heavily.
“You’ll do great. I believe in you.”
“I appreciate that,” he says. “And I’m glad you called.” I can tell that he’s smiling even though I can’t see him.
“I’m glad I called too,” I say softly.
We linger, neither of us saying anything but both of us reluctant to hang up.
“I should go. I have training,” he says.
“Yeah. I should go too. The client is coming to pick up the car tomorrow, and I have a lot to do.”
Again, we keep the line connected.
“I don’t want to hang up,” Renthrow admits sheepishly.
“Me either.”
